Retirement in Sight

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes.”

- Marcel Proust

GOLF TIP

Most golfers take one club more when playing into a strong wind, but two or three clubs may be more like it. Next time you face a headwind, try taking one more club than you initially think will do. Swing without trying to overpower the shot. You don't want to decelerate through the impact area, but you do want to swing easily. A nicely paced swing will also put less spin on the ball, allowing it to cut through the wind a bit better.

BRAIN TEASER

Geography quiz.

This Eastern European region was once part of Hungary, but is now under Romanian control. It takes its name from the Latin for “the land beyond the forest.”*

DID YOU KNOW?

Another Market Milestone

Until September, there had never been an S&P 500 stock that had traded for $1,000 per share. Priceline was the first company to break that barrier.4

WHO SHOULD BE THE EXECUTOR OF YOUR ESTATE?

Should you choose a family member with adequate financial literacy? Or the lawyer or accountant you have trusted for years? Most people leave this tough task to a relative (often a spouse), but naming a contingent executor with a legal or accounting background is wise in case your spouse or relative passes away before you do. If you fail to name an executor, the courts will appoint one to settle your estate – perhaps a member of your family, perhaps not.1

An executor acts in a fiduciary role, and probate courts tend to look more favorably on executors that turn to legal and financial professionals for input before making the final legal and financial decisions for an estate. The duties typically require a few hours per week or less (especially at the beginning, when a will is probated, initial expenses are paid, and assets gathered), but some real grunt work is involved – requesting information from assorted financial firms about this or that account, preparing estate tax returns.1

Good estate planning will not relieve an executor of all of his or her duties, but it may make things much easier for heirs.

SOME FUN WAYS TO MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA CASH

Are there low-stress, low-commitment ways to generate a little more income out of all the free time retirement gives you? Of course.

If you are wondering if you can generate some income out of those idle hours, consider some quick options. Think about being a dog walker or pet sitter. How about tutoring? Serving as a mystery shopper won’t net you a lot of net cash, but often you will be reimbursed for what you buy and collect a fee for your trip to the mall. Universities often seek seniors for medical studies, and marketers recruit seniors for focus groups. If you know how to perform certain repairs, you could offer your repair skills via Craigslist or other online marketplaces.2

Lastly, you can always sell what you don’t want – downsizing or paring down possessions can free up space, and you may realize multiple rounds of income in the process from multiple yard sales.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

Conventional home loans have become cheaper recently. Freddie Mac’s September 12 Primary Mortgage Market Survey had interest rates on the 30-year FRM averaging 4.57%; in its October 10 survey, they averaged just 4.23%.3

MidAmerica Financial Resources may be reached at

618.548.4777 or greg.malan@natplan.com

www.mid-america.us

Securities and advisory services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor.

MidAmerica Financial Resources and Malan Financial Group are separate and unrelated companies to NPC.

This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty.